Teaching Staff
Lezley has been teaching Jazz, Lyrical, and Ballet for 34 years. She is currently the Director/Choreographer of Ignite Dance Co. She began her dance training with Jody Grant, and began teaching at the age of 16. Lezley danced professionally in Branson, Mo., but returned to her love of teaching after just a few years of performing. Her heart was always in the dance studio. Lezley has been a staff member at Destination Dance (in L.A), and Adrenaline Remix (nationwide). She judges for many regional and national competitions and enjoys teaching master classes and sharing her choreography nationwide. Lezley's choreography has received national awards and recognition. Many of her students have pursued successful careers in the industry as performers and instructors. Lezley also has 25 years (and counting!) of judging experience with many national competitions.
Adia is starting her 21st season dancing and teaching for Lezley. After her 15 year dance career with Lezley as a competitive dancer she went on to study Dance Science at Texas A&M. In 2020, Adia graduated with her degree in dance and ventured off to teach middle school dance for Dallas ISD. Adia is excited to return home to both teach at the studio she grew up in, but also to create a middle school dance program for Midway ISD. Adia has traveled statewide, nationally and internationally to dance, participate/present research and set choreography. She sits on the TAHPERD Dance committee and is an active member of IADMS. She is ready to get back to Waco and do some great things in the community and with Ignite!
McKenzie danced under Lezley Meyer’s instruction for 16 years. She started competing at the age of 3. McKenzie graduated from University of North Texas where she danced competitively for the North Texas Dancers for 2 years. She danced professionally for the Panther City Lacrosse team for a full season and hopes to become a professional dancer for an NBA or NFL team in the near future. McKenzie has taught various ages and levels of dance and loves to watch the kids grow and become the best versions of themselves.
MaKayla also known as “KK”, has danced under Lezley Meyers instruction for over 15 years. She has been teaching dance for 6 years, this will be her fourth year teaching at Ignite. KK is a 2X National Collegiate Dance Champion and is currently teaching first grade at Valley Mills Elementary.
Meredith Sutton is the dance teacher and choreographer for the Department of Theatre Arts at Baylor University. She teaches ballet, tap, and jazz, choreographs department musicals, mentors student choreographers, and serves as an advisor to the Baylor Dance Company. Recent shows include Anna Karenina, Crazy For You, Fiddler on the Roof, Legally Blonde, and Footloose. She holds an MFA in Directing from Baylor University and a BFA in Dance Performance from West Texas A&M University. She is the mother of four amazing boys.
Melana was born and raised in China Spring, Texas. She spent 15 years in studio dance before she started teaching. During high school Melana spent four years on the Electric Blues dance team where she was lieutenant her junior year and captain her senior year. She went on to dance at the collegiate level, where she helped the McLennan Community College Dance Company claim an NDA National title. Melana joined the Texas A&M Corpus Christi dance team while receiving a degree in education. She is currently a first grade teacher at China Spring Primary. Melana coached the China Spring Electric Blues for three years until she became a mom to her baby girl, Saige. She trains in all forms of dance but especially enjoys hip-hop and jazz.
Jo has been dancing since she was three years old and started teaching at age 15. She loves teaching all styles of dance, but enjoys sharing her passion for tap the most. Jo has taught at studios in the Waco and Hewitt areas, and has coached numerous drill teams. She started the Moody Dance Team at Moody High School in 2012, and currently directs the Lorena Legacy. In the Spring season, Jo judges for the HTE Dance Competitions all across Texas. When Jo isn't teaching dance, she is the Family and Consumer Science teacher at Lorena High School. Jo also loves traveling, going to concerts, baking, and spending time with her family and dogs. This will be her seventh year at Ignite. She loves getting to share her passion for dance with her students at Ignite.
Lauren is a recent Texas transplant! She started dancing and competing at the age of 9, in the San Francisco Bay Area. During her years as a dancer, she has trained in many styles including: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop, Lyrical, and Contemporary. During those years, she was privileged to train with award winning teachers/choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Tabitha & Napolean D’umo. She started assisting and teaching when she was 17 at her studio in California. She took some time off from dancing to start her family, but is excited to breathe new life into her teaching career in the Heart of Texas. Lauren’s teaching style puts an emphasis on fundamentals and strong technique and hopes to instill her love of dance in her students.
Junior Staff
Mackenzie has been dancing for 12 years, all of them with Ignite! she is currently a senior at midway high school. She is very excited this year as she gets to take on a teaching role while still competing solos! Mackenzie plans to attend college after graduation, and hopefully continue her dance career on a dance team/pom squad!
Office Staff
Rachel, most commonly known as "Peanut", danced under the instruction of Lezley Meyer for 15 years. She then went on to teach for Lezley during her time in college at Tarleton State University. Rachel is now the manager of all things social media and website related and from time to time, you can catch her substitute teaching a class or two!
Audrey Carney is an Ignite Dance Company dance mom. She works the front desk once a week, but can be found around Ignite all the time because of her two daughters. Sophia, 12 years old, has been dancing at Ignite since she was 6 years old. Anna, 11 years old, has been dancing at Ignite since she was 7 years old. Both girls are members of the competition team. Ignite is such a large part of their lives that Audrey is excited to be a part of the office staff crew!